How to Look After Your Brompton Between Services - 5 TOP TIPS

[@MrSportster12]

Just the content I was looking for, thank you. Have you heard of ACF 50. It started being used in the aviation industry to prevent corrosion. It's used on motorcycles widely nowadays and I give my Brompton a wipe over with it every now and again.

[@veloworks9266]

@@MrSportster12 glad to hear! Thanks. And I have heard of such products but not used them (although have debated trying!)

[@kevinmcguire6774]

As a new Brommy owner I found this video very useful. Thankyou!

[@veloworks9266]

@@kevinmcguire6774 great to hear! Thanks Kevin & cheers for watching 👍 Happy Cycling!

[@johnbayley1109]

Another really useful video, Paul. My Brompton always says, “Thank you,” in a friendly Bristolian accent, after I clean it and lubricate it. 10:30

[@veloworks9266]

😂😂 haha thank you and good to hear

[@geoffmortimer5304]

Very good video, especially as I didnt realize had to keep the tyre pressures that high but will do from now on

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for watching and good to hear 👍

[@bazzahead7282]

I love you videos! One of the reasons I bought a Brompton. I love it!! I live on a narrow boat and so it’s ideal apart from the 3 bikes I already own 😂. Mates shed sorts that problem. Brompton will be my boat bike for convenience and commuting. Cheers Mate

[@veloworks9266]

@@bazzahead7282 yes it must make the perfect companion to a narrow boat and so glad you like the videos! Thanks for saying 👍 Happy cycling

[@davidmiller6504]

A great reminder well presented

[@veloworks9266]

Thank you & thanks for watching !

[@macola1970]

Excellent Thanks ...!!!

[@veloworks9266]

@@macola1970 glad you enjoyed it!

[@muratmustafa4532]

Nice video Paul. I prefer to use a thinner aerosol formed lubricant on pivots. I found HCB-1 from Muc Off great at providing some lubrication but more importantly pushing the rust out of the hinges and providing rust protection. Every time I use HCB-1 lots of black residue comes out of the hinges showing that it actually does a good job at pushing the rust out of these critical parts of the bike. It is not oily so does not attract dirt as much but provides enough lubrication and coating on the pins so that the folding/unfolding the bike is still easy. For tire pressure I pump mines to 110 psi and I use them until 90 psi. I do not like the feeling of 110 psi but using that strategy I can only worry about pumping tyres once a month. I must say 90 psi feels much nicer and faster than 110 psi but it is so easy to get punctures on side walls of those tyres being so close to the ground. Therefore, I do not ride much lower than 90 psi. As you suggested, the most imporant tip for Brompton is to keep it clean especially if it is used during or after a rainy day. In summer I only wash the bike once or twice but in winter it is a weekly (if not more) endeavour which is biggest drawback of brompton if one does not have an outdoor space to wash the bike easily.

[@veloworks9266]

@@muratmustafa4532 hi, thanks for the comments and watching - sounds like we are on the same page and it’s great to hear someone who looks after their Brompton similar to me. 👍👍

[@paulrichmond9720]

Hi Paul....another brilliant video. I notice you replaced the rear suspension block on your Brompton. Goes without saying you've used a top quality component. What brand is it and more to the point do you supply them. Thanks. Paul.😊

[@veloworks9266]

Hi, thanks again for watching - we really appreciate every comment too. The spring can be seen in this video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5zKm2Sqr92tqtU and is a Matumura Kohki Scrowave Suspension Spring and can be bought from SJS cycles. Sadly we don't stock them :-) Hope that helps!

[@kayasper6081]

I see you use the Wet lube of Finish Line😮 After a few years, I decided to NEVER apply that one again; even when sparely used, in time it forms a very thick pasta of rubber like sediment mixed with sand and dirt. And that is exactly what you don't want on your bike: an agressive grinding pasta. By the way, I love your Brompton! Especially the finish and the way the joints of the frame look like.

[@veloworks9266]

@@kayasper6081 hi thanks for watching and your comments. I understand your point of view. It works for us but we don’t use it all year round, we use it very sparingly and we get a lot of miles out of the chain 👍

[@johalford708]

Thank you. Very useful. However, I always believed I should avoid getting any lubricant on the seat post as it would make is more likely to slip down when riding. I am mistaken?

[@veloworks9266]

@@johalford708 hi thanks for watching and glad you found the video useful. A lot of people would agree with you however a tiny spray of dry lubricant will have no effect and won’t make the seat post slip. If your seat post slips then there is another issue and I have always found the bike benefits from a spray

[@palmcrazysg]

wouldn't the seatpost drop after applying lubricant?

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

Have you tried chain waxing, avoids the grinding paste combination of wet weather chain lube and road debris.

[@veloworks9266]

Yes a lot of our chains have wax on them at the moment because of the dry weather but I switch to wet lube in the winter 👍

[@Bigblueone]

I hot wax my chains ...keeps the chain very clean

[@platypushatstand]

The highest I’ve run my Schwalbe Marathons is 72psi, though mine are usually at 62psi, otherwise the ride is too uncomfortable and jarring on Sussex roads. Numerous utility companies are seemingly incompetent at filling over what they dig into, creating speed humps and/or potholes, especially on our increasing number of chip-sealed roads 😢 I shall try greasing the clamp bolt shafts, as I’d previously cleaned, then applied 3-in-1 oil and wiped off the excess before refitting, but noticed recently they’re getting a bit mucky. My presumption is after removing the clamp bolt and cleaning it and the threaded hole, I can then apply grease to the threaded hole, so that when the clean clamp bolt is reinserted the grease will coat the bolt? I notice you didn’t mention applying a little grease to the inner faces of the clamps where they meet the closed outer hinge faces, something I always do, as it minimises the clamps squeaking and/or creaking over time. Similarly, you didn’t mention greasing the shaft of the bolt securing the suspension block in place (but most crucially not the bolt thread!).

[@pastre999]

What lubricant is that , where can I buy it ? Thanks

[@veloworks9266]

Hi, the wet lube is Finish Line wet lubricant and the dry is GT85 - both available online

[@icicemail00]

My Brompton which is only 18 months old and not heavily used is already rusty inside the bottom of the seat tube. When the set post is raised and lowered it sounds terribly gritty (there is no dirt in the tube). Do you have any suggestions?

[@veloworks9266]

@@icicemail00 hi thanks for watching and your comment. You could LIGHTLY put some wire wool up there and move it around - just to smooth out the rust a little. There are some frame sprays you can get but something like a GT85 will repel the water if it’s going up there and this should at least keep the water away from now on. 👍

[@johnpot7323]

Check out latest video. More Brompton accesories made in Barcelona. Just up your alley or lane!

[@johncroall9764]

How do you lubricate the hinge clips? Both of mine are very stiff. (2007 M3L). Thanks.

[@veloworks9266]

@@johncroall9764 hi John, do you mean the clips or the actual hinges?

[@johncroall9764]

@@veloworks9266 The hinges are fine, but the clip screw is very stiff. Been in a garage for 8 years and now using again regularly after a service.

[@veloworks9266]

@@johncroall9764 if you can, take the screw out all the way and grease it with a lithium grease. If you can’t take that model one out all the way, screw it out as far as you can then grease the thread. After doing this just wind it in and out a few times and wipe off any excess 👍

[@johncroall9764]

@@veloworks9266 Worked a treat! Thanks!

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

I have thought about, as a Dane with a lot of needed Rust Prevention in cars, to spray Rust Oil inside the frame for protection! I don't use mine during winter or rain, but you may be out on your bike when it starts to rain? But when I bought mine in 2019 , I as a first gave the all the paint an Auto Polish and found out that the Factory, clear tape "Protection" had been worn through to the paint on one! So as a second I ordered a full set of "Protective Plates" from China! The largest Seller of Better and Ligther parts for a Brompton, also made in Korea and Taiwan! Since then I have added better parts so it now weighs below 9 kilo, with mudguards, and still looking as a Standard, flame painted Superlight! Finn. Denmark

[@veloworks9266]

@@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 thanks for sharing. Great to hear the lengths you go to protect it!

[@johnpot7323]

Hi Paul, have a look at Path Less Pedaled latest comparing new and old Bromptons. Also own Bromptons.

[@veloworks9266]

Will do 👍

[@johnpot7323]

@@veloworks9266 I think you might like his channel.He does things like you had to do on the APB. Hack! He does it on lots of bikes! Moved to Spain early this year.

[@johnpot7323]

@@veloworks9266 Russ and his partner Laura did some bike touring on Bromptons around 2007. You might like the channel. Not just about Bromptons!

[@johnpot7323]

@@veloworks9266 got the year wrong!!! 2011!!!

[@codak29]

I'd never lubricate my seatpost. Bromptons famously have a problem with slipping seatposts. Brompton actually recommends degreasing the seatpost.

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for watching. I have owned this Brompton for 10 years and not once has the seat post slipped and I often ride it over rough terrain. Also, I am not a light person. Equally the 100’s of bromptons I’ve serviced have never had a slipping seat post nor have customers reported a slipping seat post. My advice to anyone with a slipping seat post would be to have it investigated by a mechanic or if the Brompton is under warranty take it back. This is my practical experience having worked on Bromptons for over 16 years 👍

[@photooutdoor2574]

@@veloworks9266That’s absolutely correct 👍🏻

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

110psi seems very high, I thought lower pressures were all the rage these days to improve traction due to the tyre adapting to the contours of the road and not skipping all over the place if pumped up hard ?

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for watching & the comment. Yes it’s true for bikes with bigger wheels however for a folding bike it’s very difficult to lower the pressures and gain more comfort because you risk damaging the wheels 👍

[@jonathanleach3914]

@@veloworks9266 I run mine at 100 psi. Works well

[@johnpot7323]

From Russ Path Less pedaled

[@Garfie1d73]

Greasing the seatpost is utter nonsense.

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for watching, especially to the end. We really appreciate it. My Brompton that is 10 years old, done thousands of miles and is in pretty much new condition would disagree with you. Two spots of GT85 is hardly greasing.

[@oswaldconsultancyltd3150]

My 25 year old welcomes some lubricant on its seat post. Works well.

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

Put it in a perspex box and don't ride it. Like the Ferrari in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. It's what most Brompton riders secretly wish they could do with their overhyped, flexy, inefficient pose-mobile. .

[@veloworks9266]

Thanks for watching!